27 November,2015 07:05 AM IST | | Samiullah Khan
15-year-old had been gang raped by her school friend, 3 others, who shot a video and shared it on WhatsApp; the sordid crime came to light, when her aunt received the clip on the mobile messaging app
Over a fortnight after a 15-year-old girl was gang-raped by her friend and three of his friends, the sordid crime came to light on Wednesday, when her aunt received a video clip of the act on WhatsApp.
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The boys had used the same clip to threaten the survivor into silence, but then they shared it with their friends on WhatsApp, after which the video went viral, eventually reaching the girl's aunt. The crime had taken place on November 8, when the girl's friend called her to his friend's house, saying he needed help with studies.
Waiting there were the four boys, all of whom are between 15 and 16 years and from the same neighbourhood and school as the girl, cops said. The boys made sure to call her there when no other family members were home. When she got there, they took turns raping her and recorded the whole act on their mobile phone.
The accused threatened to make the clip public if the survivor told anyone. However, one of the boys shared the video on WhatsApp, after which it quickly spread. The survivor's father had passed away, and her mother works abroad, so she lives with her sister, grandmother and aunt.
On Wednesday, the aunt was shocked to receive the same clip. She showed it to the girl, who broke down and narrated the ordeal. Her aunt immediately rushed to Malad police station and registered an FIR.
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The police too swung into action and nabbed all the accused. They were booked under Section 376 (G) (gang rape) of the IPC, as well as under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The survivor's grandmother said, "The whole family is in trauma, but the police have supported us." "All four were produced before a juvenile court, after which they were sent to the Dongri correction home, where they will be questioned by a child welfare officer," said Senior Police Inspector S Sandbhor of Malad police station.
